Criticism for ‘hollow words’ of Labour MP who told Starmer she was ‘ashamed’ of benefit cuts bill

A senior Labour MP has been heavily criticised by disabled activists after telling the prime minister she felt “ashamed” of the government’s plans to cut billions of pounds from disability benefits, despite voting for some of the cuts herself.

Debbie Abrahams, who chairs the Commons work and pensions committee, was one of the senior figures questioning Sir Keir Starmer on Monday as he appeared before the Commons liaison committee.

She told him that the universal credit and personal independence bill that was introduced last month – before later being watered down – was “poor legislation” that was “designed to save money for the Treasury by cutting support to sick and disabled people”. 

She told him: “It was so far removed from Labour values of fairness and social justice, let alone compassion and common decency, that I have to say I felt ashamed.”

Her comments secured widespread media attention.

But many disabled people pointed out that Abrahams had twice voted for the bill, after she helped persuade ministers to make changes, including removing planned cuts of billions of pounds to personal independence payment.

The bill Abrahams voted for will still cut £2 billion-a-year from the benefits paid to most new claimants of the health element of universal credit from next April.

But some activists have also warned that the universal credit bill could increase the risk of serious harm to disabled claimants, particularly those with significant mental distress, although the lack of clarity from ministers means it is far from clear how they will be affected.

Abrahams should be aware of this risk as she has repeatedly spoken out on safeguarding issues and deaths linked to the actions of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) was among those highly critical of Abrahams.

Paula Peters, a member of DPAC’s national steering group, said the MP’s criticism of the prime minister was “just hollow empty words by the chair of the work and pensions committee, who sided with the government and voted for the hideous universal credit bill.

“Debbie should be feeling very ashamed she voted for benefit cuts and the impact they will have on disabled people’s lives.   

“We are angry and let down by Debbie that she voted the way she did and she’s shown she’s no ally of disabled people.

“In 2029, Debbie’s voting record will come back to bite her in the general election. She could well end up losing her seat.”

Linda Burnip, a DPAC co-founder, added: “While I understand a lot of politics is about playing games and possibly feeling you can do more by being part of the establishment, I feel that if you’re opposed to something then the moral thing to do is simply vote against it.” 

The response to Abrahams’ comments was also mixed across social media, with those on X/Twitter particularly critical in pointing out that she had twice voted for the government’s bill, with some criticism also on Bluesky and Facebook.

Asked by Abrahams on Monday what values would now underpin the government’s policymaking to “avoid the potential and real harms that disabled and vulnerable people are going to face”, Sir Keir said the system was “broken and needs to be mended” and that three million people are “locked out” of work for “health-related reasons”.

He said: “I am not going to pretend that we got everything right in recent weeks, but we do need to reform the system. 

“We should take that on as a Labour argument, in my view.”

Abrahams also told the prime minister that the remaining parts of the legislation, passed on Tuesday by the House of Lords, seemed “so punitive” because in her area of the country – she is an MP in Greater Manchester – there was “one job for a disabled person for every 333 disabled people chasing a job”.

She asked him what he would do to mitigate the impact of 50,000 disabled people being pushed into poverty next April by the cuts to the health element of universal credit for most new claimants.

Sir Keir said he did “not accept that everything is going to take years”, and – when pushed by Abrahams – said that “a lot of work can be done with employers to encourage them to take on and to retain [disabled people]”.

He mentioned pilot schemes that he claimed had been “very successful”, but he did not name any examples.

Abrahams asked him what his message was to disabled people who were caused “fear and anxiety” by the government’s original plans to cuts billions of pounds from both personal independence payment (PIP) and the health element of universal credit.

As with nearly every minister who has been asked about the PIP cuts, the prime minister responded by talking about employment, even though PIP is not linked to a disabled person’s job status.

Sir Keir said it was “very important that they feel secure and supported” and added: “I want to see more opportunities and more support put in place. 

“Some of that will come from the state; some of it can come from employers.

“I am absolutely clear in my own mind that there is more that employers could do, and that the state can help them to do, to encourage those with disabilities to come into work, and to retain those who are in work.”

Credit for this article goes to John Pring with the Disability News Service